BI110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Membrane Protein, Eukaryote, Photomorphogenesis
Document Summary
Sun converts matter into energy through electromagnetic radiation, making life possible. Matter occupies space and has mass; all tangible substances are made of matter. It can take many forms: electromagnetic radiation (visible light, uv light), chemical energy and kinetic energy. Sun produces most types of radiation o the electromagnetic spectrum. Only some of these make it to earth (uv, visible light and near infrared radiations) Most interested in visible light in terms of biology makes up a very small portion of spectrum. Purple (400) wavelengths are shortest, red (700) is the longest. Shortest wave lengths have the most energy. Light electromagnetic radiations that humans can detect with their eyes: a wave of discrete particles called photons. Wavelength distance between two successive peaks. For light to be used it must first be absorbed by molecules called pigments: these are critical in order for light to be used in biological processes.
